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US4384216A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Controlled power performance driver circuit

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1980-08-22
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Granted: 1983-05-17
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Expires: 2000-08-22
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Abstract

Abstract The circuit rapidly charges and discharges a load capacitor by sensing the direction of transients at an internal node of the circuit which is selectively isolated from a capacitive output node to produce significant load current during upward transients. In an embodiment of the invention, the circuit includes a driver device and first, second and third field effect transistors. The first transistor is connected between a voltage supply terminal and the driver device forming an internal node between the first transistor and the driver device and acts as a current source pulling up the internal node. The second transistor is connected between the internal node and an output node and is arranged to selectively isolate the internal node from the output node, with isolation increasing during a positive transient to allow maximum drive to the third transistor connected between the voltage supply terminal and the output node to produce increased output current. The second transistor is also arranged to minimize the isolation between the internal and output nodes during negative transients to rapidly discharge the output node.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wilbur D. Pricer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 22:16
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K5/00; H03K5/01; H03K5/02; H03K5/023; H03K19/00; H03K19/02; H03K19/08; H03K19/094; H03K19/0944; H03K19/09441; H03K19/09443; H03K19/09445

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 92 words
A circuit comprising; a driver device coupled to an internal node, a first depletion mode transistor coupled between said internal node and a power supply terminal and controlled by said internal node, a second depletion mode transistor coupled between said internal node and an output node, said second transistor arranged to provide a low impedance value when a voltage on said output node is higher than the voltage on said internal node, and an active device coupled between said power supply terminal and said output node and controlled by said internal node.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 92 words
A circuit comprising; a driver device coupled to an internal node, a first depletion mode transistor coupled between said internal node and a power supply terminal and controlled by said internal node, a second depletion mode transistor coupled between said internal node and an output node, said second transistor arranged to provide a low impedance value when a voltage on said output node is higher than the voltage on said internal node, and an active device coupled between said power supply terminal and said output node and controlled by said internal node.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
A circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second depletion mode transistor is arranged as a diode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 39 words
A circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second transistor has a channel with first and second materials, said second material being disposed adjacent said output node and providing a higher threshold voltage than said first material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
A circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second transistor is a field effect transistor having a control gate connected to said output node.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 28 words
A circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first transistor is a field effect depletion mode transistor having a control gate connected to said internal node.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
A circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said active device is an enhancement mode transistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
A circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said active device is a two threshold voltage device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 44 words
A circuit as set forth in claim 1 further including; a first capacitor having a given capacitance value connected to said internal node, and a second capacitor having a capacitance value significantly greater than that of said first capacitor connected to said output node.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
A circuit as set forth in claim 8 wherein the capacitance value of said second capacitor is at least ten times greater than that of said first capacitor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 90 words
A driver circuit comprising; an enhancement mode transistor connected between an internal node and a point of reference potential, a first depletion mode transistor coupled between said internal node and a power supply terminal and having a control gate connected to said internal node, a second depletion mode transistor coupled between said internal node and an output node, said second transistor having a control gate connected to said output node, and a source follower coupled between said power supply terminal and said output node and controlled by said internal node.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 90 words
A driver circuit comprising; an enhancement mode transistor connected between an internal node and a point of reference potential, a first depletion mode transistor coupled between said internal node and a power supply terminal and having a control gate connected to said internal node, a second depletion mode transistor coupled between said internal node and an output node, said second transistor having a control gate connected to said output node, and a source follower coupled between said power supply terminal and said output node and controlled by said internal node.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 45 words
A driver circuit as set forth in claim 10 further including; a first capacitance having a given capacitor value connected to said internal node and a second capacitor having a capacitance value significantly greater than that of said first capacitor connected to said output node.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 21 words
A driver circuit as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second depletion mode transistor has two different threshold voltage values.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 21 words
A driver circuit as set forth in claim 11 wherein said source follower is a second enhancement mode field effect transistor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 26 words
A driver circuit as set forth in claim 13 wherein said second enhancement mode field effect transistor has a control gate connected to said internal node.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 24 words
A driver circuit as set forth in claim 11 wherein said source follower is a depletion mode transistor having two different threshold voltage values.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3271590A Cited
US3381144A Cited
US3553601A Cited
US3775693A Cited
US4161039A Cited
US4117353A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-05-16 1986-11-15 1987-05-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-05-16 1990-11-15 1991-05-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-05-16 1994-11-15 1995-05-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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